Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows the main building of the Bank of Russia in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)
The Russian central bank holds open the prospect of further key rate reduction.
MOSCOW, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Russia on Friday decided to cut the key rate by 300 basis points to 17 percent per annum from April 11.
"External conditions for the Russian economy are still challenging, considerably constraining economic activity. Financial stability risks are still present, but have ceased to increase for the time being, including owing to the adopted capital control measures," the bank said in a statement.
According to the statement, the bank holds open the prospect of further key rate reduction at its upcoming meetings, and the next rate review meeting will be held on April 29.
Russia drastically raised the key rate from 9.5 percent to 20 percent on Feb. 28 to support financial and price stability and protect the savings of citizens from depreciation, days after it launched a special military operation in Ukraine.
The central bank decided to keep the key rate at 20 percent at the rate review meeting on March 18. ■
